Hydrogenating apparatus



Filed May 21. 1950 fi imr w ATTORNEY-1 av Zl/ Patented Jan. 3, 1933 i v1,892,732

umren STATES OFFWE ERNEST JOSEPH LUSH, OF LONDON, ENGLAND HYDBOGENATINGAPPARATUS Application filed May 21, 1930, Serial N0. 454,498, and inIndia May 28, 1929.

The hydrogenation of liquids, solids in catalytic masses which will givegreater indussuspension and gases by the use of catalysts trialefficiency to the process described in the prepared according to thespecification of specification of Patent No. 1,519,035, taking UnitedStates Patent No. 1,519,085 has shown into consideration the conditionsset out that the activity of the catalyst so prepared above. as

is especially great qualitatively allowing hy- In the annexed drawing isdiagrammatidrogenati'on reactions to be carried out at cally illustratedtwo alternative arrangelower temperatures than hitherto economiments anddispositions of catalytic elements cally possible. The activity of thecatalyst within anordinary reaction vessel.

is quantitatively proportional to the anodi- In Figure 1 is shown oneform wherein the cally oxidized surface of the metallic mass. catalyticmass of nickelturnings is packed It is therefore important in practiceto 010- between two wire gauze cylinders a and b and tain the maximumsurface in a given space diameters of which are respectively 18 inchesrepresented by the capacity of the reaction and 6 inches.

vessel and to have the metal wire, turnings, For the purpose of carryingout the oxidizplates or other metallic elements in such a ing process acathode sheet can be used to surform as to obtain the maximum catalyticround the cylinderaand acathode rod or tube activity by anodicoxidation. can be placed centrally inside the cylinder Now I have foundthat if wire, turnings b so that the greatest distance the oxidation 20or other metallic elements be packed into has to travel back from theoutside edge nearcylindrical tubes of perforated material, such est thecathode is 3 inches. In this arrangeas metallic gauze of varyingdiameters, that ment the annular space occupied by the catasince anodicoxidation commences at the surlytic mass 0 contained within thecylinders a face of the anode nearest the cathode there and 7) amountsto about 89 per cent of the 5 is a maximum diameter of the cylindrical1'8- total area available within the reaction vesticulated mass of metalwire or the like sel d which is also presumed to be cylindriwhich can beconveniently penetrated and cal. It will be appreciated that within theoxidized. As a matter of fact if the cylindri tube or cylinder 6 of theannular catalytic cal mass of turnings or the like has a diammass 0 maybe placed another cylindrical 0 eter of 6 inches or less all portions ofthe maSS catalyst 0 made up of wire or turnings sepahave equal activity.If, however, the diamrately oxidized so as to completely fill the reeterof the cylindrical mass of turnings or the action vessel like is 12inches then if three portions of In practice however it is found moreusecatalysts be taken at regular intervals or ful and convenient toutilize this space by the distances between the outside and the centreinsertion of the closed stand-pipe e which 35 of the mass the activityof the three portions contains the upstanding steam pipe 7 which will beas 100: 100 z respectively. It will is perforated at its top so as toserve as heatbe seen therefore that a mass of turnings or ing meansforthe contents of the reaction veswire should be anodically oxidized sothat sel (Z.

0 the distance between the inner and outer The supply of the material tobe subjected core of the turnings does not exceed 6 inches. tohydrogenation is admitted by the conduit On the other hand it isimportant to use 9 and discharged from the reaction vessel cl such aform of catalyst as will require the by the pipe h, whilst the hydrogenenters the minimum amount of handling since handling reaction vessel bythe pipe i and escapes by involvescost, loss by disintegration and inthepipe thus constituting a counterflow as 9 creased danger of decrease ofactivity of catausually practised in such processes. 70 is the lyst dueto the adventitious contamination of pipe by which steam is admitted tothe intethe turnings or other metallic elements. rior stand pipe 0 andanother pipe m serves The object of the present invention is to fordrainage of condense or steam exit.

provide various forms of compact reticulated It may be observed that thecage withm 10o which the turnings forming the reticulated catalytic massis packed approximately occupies one-third of the reaction vessel sothat merely three elements would be required. in the example illustratedin Figure 1.

In Figure 2 the reaction vessel d is of tubular construction each of thecatalytic elements 0 0 c, c, a and 0 being composed of the metallicgauze vertical wall a with top disc 2 and bottom disc 6 so thatpresuming the height or thickness does not exceed 6 inches when theelement is suspended in the electrolytic bath the anodic oxidationpenetrates from the surfaces a and Z2 towards the centre so that theoxidation merely traverses from the cathode on either side of theelement 3 inches towards the centre of the reticulated mass.

It will be understood that such plain blocklike elements occupyconsiderably less space and need very much less handling than plates ordiscs superposed in like manner as referred to in specification ofPatent No. 1,519,035.

In either of the foregoing examples the metallic gauze cylinder Withinwhich the reticulated catalytic mass is packed it is advanta geous toemploy gauze or perforated sheeting made of alloys which will not have adeleterious action on the catalytic process and are more resistant toanodic oxidation than the metal forming the catalyst.

For example a cylindrical metallic gauze or sheet composed of a copperor a copper nickel alloy, or other acid resisting metal, may be used tocontain the turnings or wire of pure nickel. It may be observed thatmetallic wire as for example nickel may be used in such a form that noretaining gauze cage is necessary.

Again in highly exothermic reactions it has been found advantageous toemploy thicker wire or coarser turnings so that a sudden change intemperature is avoided by the relatively high heat capacity of thecatalytic mass. When the heat of reaction is exceptionally high as inthe hydrogenation of nitro-benzene to aniline it is convenient toreplace the wire by tubes through which a liquid is circulated tocontrol the temperature the exterior surface of the tubes beinganodically oxidized and subsequently reduced in hydrogen to produce acatalytic surface.

What I claim is 1. In hydrogenating apparatus, a reaction vessel, aplurality of cylind 'ical tubular cages of acid resisting metal Withinsaid vessel, each of said tubular cages containing pure nickel turningsforming a compact reticulated catalytic element and each of suchelements not materially exceeding six inches in thickness, said elementsbeing anodically oxidized preparatory to their use in said hydrogenating vessel.

2. In hydrogenating apparatus, a reaction vessel, a plurality ofcircular cages of acid resisting metal disposed within said vessel, eachof said cages containing pure nickel turnings forming a compactreticulated catalytic element and each of such elements not materiallyexceeding six inches in thickness said elements being anodicallyoxidized preparatory to their use in said hydrogenating vessel.

3. In hydrogenating apparatus, a reaction vessel, a plurality of tubularelements disposed Within said vessel and forming a heating means, theexterior surface of said elements being anodically oxidized andsubsequently reduced in hydrogen to produce an activated catalyticsurface, in combination with known means for admitting the material tobe hydrogenated to said vessel and the discharge therefrom in acounter-flow direction to the hydrogen passing through said vessel.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ERNEST JOSEPH LUSH.

